If anyone is "on-the-fence' regarding the Michelin PSS tires, DO IT, you will not regret it. My wife's car picked up a 3/8" bolt in the left rear tire and since she drove the car slowly for almost 3 miles the RFT Bridgestone was ruined according to the tire shop. We ordered the Michelins and had them installed today. It's a totally different car with real tires on it. The steering is very light and precise, bumps do not shake the entire car like the Potenza RE50's and the cornering is just amazing now. These tires should be on the car from the factory.
Next we will experiment with tire pressures. The RFT 36/42psi is a bit high for non-RFT tires and we will go to 36/38 as soon as they cool off.

I could not agree more - can you imagine how well the Z would do in car reviews if BMW would put real f__________ tires on their sports cars from the beginning. It is a huge detriment to BMWs to have to compete with cars in comparison testing or otherwise while hobbled with RFTs. RFTs to Michelin PSS is a complete and amazing transformation. Do not be fooled into thinking RFTs are good - some are better than others but they are all terrible when compared to even decent standard performance tires.

Have you experimented with the tire pressures on your Michelins? I'm running 36F/38R for now to see how they wear. I doubt very much there is a need for 36/42 like the stock RFTs. The rear feels well planted with 38 but was a little nervous with 42.

PSS is day and night different compared to OEM RFT. I have to go through the same bump every time I go home and the OEM tires made me feel like my liver is going to fall out. One time, I hit the pothole and thought I bent my wheel because it made such a loud thump and he pothole wasn't even big

I took my Z in to have the Pilot Super Sports installed and they sent the Pilot Sport A/S Plus for the rears, so I drove the car home with Michelin PSS on the front and Potenza RFT on the rear. You can really tell the difference from the two. The tire noise was only coming from the rear tires and instead of the hard thump thump whenever you run over a crack in the street, I only got one thump when the rear tires hit it. I am glad they messed up the shipment so that I could experience the change and improvement I was getting. I'll be running a staggered set on 17x8 290's with 225/45R17 on the front and 245/45R17 on the rear which should correct my speedometer to my GPS reading and gain 3/4" in width too. I'm looking forward to the rear install next Tuesday.

bmwmick - I have not experimented other than running the recommended pressures for the RFTs. with your prodding, I will now start messing around with the pressure a little bit.

Blu Yea - I do not blame your thinking on this as it is hard to toss tires with 10k left on them. for me, I gladly did it with only 8k on the OEM tires and it was a great decision. the way I look at it, my wife's e89 stickered at $68+k, so it was worth tossing the tires, and for you it is just two front

I am sooo ready.
just got a replacement 296 and thought i would have to do the tire but nope.

i know i'm asking for it BUT...anyone try to replace only the backs then do the fronts later? I have 10K left on my fronts.

Blu,
I would not be worried about mixing them that way.......unless you plan to set records on Santa Susana Pass or Box Canyon roads. It's counter intuitive looking at the treadwear numbers 140 vs 300 but the Michelins sure seem to stick better than the Potenzas ever did.

I got my rears (245/45R17) in and installed today. Silence is golden. What a great tire these are.
Like many have stated before, BMW would have sold many more E89's if they were equipped with these tire for road testing and sales from the factory.